SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Doctor of Nursing Science 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
6107  Doctor of Nursing Science 
ORIGINATOR
University of Pretoria 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Doctoral Degree  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Promotive Health and Developmental Services 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  360  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 10  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 SAQA 1141/23  2021-07-01  2024-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2025-06-30   2028-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
The purpose of this qualification is to provide post doctoral opportunities for continued personal intellectual growth and rewarding contributions to Nursing Science and Health care. The development of new knowledge frameworks, paradigms and models as well as theories are included. The extension of the body of knowledge in Nursing Science is intended.

The purpose of this qualification is also to provide South Africa with experts in Nursing Science including Nursing research to ensure that the local and international leadership base of innovative and knowledge based scholarly activity is widened. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Matriculation certificate
First degree: Bachelor degree in Nursing
Honours degree
Master's degree

Other:
Ph D
Candidates will be permitted to apply for this programme based on proven scholarly expertise and research outputs in any specialised field in Nursing Science. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
N 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
Learning outcomes:
The D Cur graduate demonstrates:
  • Expert, highly specialised and advanced research skills.
  • Planning, resourcing, managing and optimising all aspects of the processes engaged in nursing research.
  • Complete accountability for determining, achieving and evaluating all personal and group output in research in Nursing Science.
  • Academic leadership and in depth knowledge in the field of specialisation.
  • The generation, conceptualisation, evaluation and synthesis of information and concepts in Nursing Science applying critical thinking and expertise problem solving competencies.
  • The competence to integrate and apply theoretical knowledge and research findings within the relevant local and global context.
  • Sensitivity with regard to the ethical implications of Nursing research and consideration for socially relevant issues and research needs in South Africa.
  • Proven competence in the preparing of research articles and other scientific and other scientific reports published in refereed journals of international accreditation.

    Critical cross-field outcomes:
    Critical cross field outcomes for this qualification include competencies such as:
  • Identifying and solving problems encountered during the research process through expert and responsible decision making.
  • Working intersectorally and interdisciplinary both on individual level and in groups displaying good interpersonal skills.
  • Contributing toward extenuation of Nursing Science by developing holistic, integrated knowledge frameworks, models, theories and models.
  • Collecting, analysing, organising and evaluating of theory, information and processes in Nursing Science.
  • Exploring and developing opportunities for the furthering of research in Nursing Science.
  • Critical thinking and creative scientific skills to develop new knowledge within the field of expertise.
  • Writing scientific reports suitable for publication in refereed and internationally accredited journals 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    To meet the requirements for the D Cur qualification the competencies of the candidates are assessed on the basis of:
  • Scholarly output on national and international level during oral presentation in front of experts in the field of specialisation
  • The capacity to defend scholarly arguments and research findings
  • The ability to debate the contribution made to Nursing Science
  • Written outputs of research in the form of scientific publications in the field of expertise

    Integrated assessment:
    Portfolios
    Oral examinations

    Other:
    Final assessment by expert external assessors will be done of the scholarly achievements put before the panel 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    None 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    A minimum of two external assessors from other National and International Education Institutions in the applicable field of study is required.
    Two assessors including the second examiner from the Faculty of Health Sciences with external assessors will form the pane. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Qualifications required:
    Ph D and D Cur

    Career experience required:
    Assessors should have extensive experience and proven expertise in the Nursing Science enabling them to asses and judge the contributions of the candidate 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015. 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. University of Pretoria 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.